The medieval marketplace of the Old Town and the stage on which much of Czech history has been played out.
The square grew up in the twelfth century at a crossroads of trade routes. Around it stand the Gothic Týn Church with its twin spiky towers, the Old Town Hall with the Astronomical Clock, the Baroque St. Nicholas Church and the Rococo Kinský Palace, where Franz Kafka went to school.
In the pavement in front of the Old Town Hall, twenty-seven crosses mark the execution of Protestant leaders here in 1621, after the Battle of White Mountain. In the centre stands Ladislav Šaloun's Jan Hus Monument, unveiled in 1915, and beside it the Marian Column — torn down in 1918 as a symbol of Habsburg rule and rebuilt in 2020 after years of debate.
The square is at its most atmospheric early in the morning and in the evening, when the churches are floodlit. From late November to early January it hosts Prague's best-known Christmas market. The cafés and restaurants directly on the square charge for the view; one street away, prices drop sharply.
Where to stay nearby
Live prices and availability on a map centred on this exact spot — hotels, apartments and hostels, so you can judge the walk from here rather than guess from an address.
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Frequently asked
Where is Old Town Square?
The address is Staroměstské nám., 110 00 Praha 1-Staré Město, in Old Town (District Praha 1).
Is Old Town Square worth visiting?
It holds 4.8 out of 5 from 122,118 Google reviews — a strong score for a attraction in Prague. Treat the rating as a starting point, not a verdict, and read a few recent reviews too.
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